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Thursday, 19 May 2016

Hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) decontamination is an increasingly popular decontamination method. The antimicrobial action of hydrogen peroxide is effective in mass usage. It can even eliminate bacterial spores in high concentrations (more than 10%). It can even be used on surgical tools, since its byproducts upon degradation are just oxygen and water. This also means that it doesn’t need any aftercare, such as wiping down after application.

How does HPV Decontamination Work?

Hydrogen peroxide can be vaporized in a vaporizer and spread throughout a room with the help of nozzles and fans. Though early versions of the technology required specialist technicians, modern versions can easily be operated by hospital staff, with the help of some training. Due to its effective antimicrobial action and easy operation, HPV decontamination has increased in demand at a strong pace in the last few years. According to Transparency Market Research, the global hydrogen peroxide vapor decontamination market garnered revenue totaling US$122.7 mn in 2015. The revenue of the market is expected to exhibit a 6.7% CAGR from 2016 to 2024 and reach US$220 mn by 2024.

The global hydrogen peroxide vapor decontamination market is driven primarily by its rising use in hospital rooms. HPV decontamination helps hospitals reduce the number of cases of hospital-acquired infections, since it can be employed with practically no side effects. Due to the higher-than-average concentration of infected individuals in hospitals, hospital-acquired infections are on the rise. This can be combated effectively with HPV decontamination. The action of hydrogen peroxide vapor on Staphylococcus aureus, a major causative agent of hospital-acquired infections, is being studied at present to find out how resistance against HPV can be avoided. Geobacillus stearothermophilus is also being studied to understand the mechanism of the action of HPV on microbes.

How have international medical bodies affected the HPV decontamination market?

International medical regulatory bodies have also helped the HPV decontamination market, since sterility tests of medical equipment and aseptic processing are mandatory in an increasing number of regions around the world. Since HPV decontamination systems have a low time to market, players in the medical devices industry are increasingly emphasizing on their use, driving the global HPV decontamination market.

On the other hand, HPV decontamination can be inefficient in rooms containing several beds, since a smooth film of HPV works best against microbes. This has kept the demand for HPV decontamination from hospitals in check.

Apart from hospitals, where is HPV decontamination majorly used?

The global HPV decontamination industry has gained a new end user in recent years: Spacecraft and aircraft. HPV decontamination is the most efficient and cost-effective decontamination method for large aircraft and spacecraft, since manually or even robotically cleaning the whole vehicle can be time-consuming. In contrast, HPV decontamination provides near-complete decontamination with no need for supervision and no harmful byproducts.

Geographically, which are the leading regions in the global HPV decontamination market?

Geographically, North America and Europe are the leading segments of the global HPV decontamination market. The widespread availability of medical facilities and the booming aviation industry in these regions are the factors responsible for the steady performance of these regional markets.